Also known as the "Silver Port" in Spanish, Puerto Plata earned its name from the glistening water along the shore. Puerto Plata is the eighth largest city in the Dominican Republic. Known for its reasonably priced all-inclusive resorts, Puerto Plata has it all from family vacations to honeymoons, and everything in between. There are plenty of activities for visitors to explore, including museums, historic fort, top-notch golf course, watersports, and so much more.

Water activity

With its breezes and gentle waves, Puerto Plata is never short of water activities. Beach towns of Sosua and Cabarete are full of popular options like snorkeling, diving and even windsurfing and kiteboarding for water enthusiasts. Visitors can also take an excursion to Paradise Island, a small sandbank known for its surrounding reef and tropical fish. You will find that paradise is the perfect name for this destination.

Amber Museum

Be sure to visit the Dominican Amber Museum as it is home to Dominican Republic's fascinating amber collection. Here you will get an up close look at the fossils captured by the amber, with some of them being between 25 and 40 million years old! The Dominican amber is known for being some of the most transparent in the world, so many of the preserved fossils within are easily visible.

La Glorieta

Located in the center of Parque Central and surrounded by City Hall and other government office buildings, La Glorieta is the most recognized structure in Puerto Plata. The symmetrical two-story white and green structure serves as a nice stop for visitors to take photos and enjoy the city view. Also located near Parque Central is Catedral San Felipe Apostol, a twin-towered structure that exhibits a successful blend of colonial style and Art Deco elements

Mt. Isabel de Torres

Southwest of Puerto Plata, Mt. Isabel de Torres soars 2,600-feet above the sea level and is the go-to place for nature lovers who want to observe the tropical forest and wildlife at close range. Once up at the summit, you will see a massive statue of Christ, a botanical garden and most importantly, spectacular views of the city. After the hike, visitors can take the cable car down the mountain and enjoy a panoramic view over the Caribbean Sea. Still, we recommend you to visit in the morning because the views are usually blocked by the heavy cloud cover that rolls in the afternoon.

Fort San Felipe

Built on a hill in Puerto Plata in 1577, Fort San Felipe is one of the oldest military fortresses in the region. Its 7ft thick walls, squat doorways and the trench filled with sharp coral and swords not only make it a sturdy fortress but also an effective prison. Today, the fort serves as a museum educating visitors about Puerto Plata's history and its fights against pirates. The fort also showcases military artifacts such as guns, artillery shells and cannons dating back to the 18th and 19th century.